Wash-board



y UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN S. JOHNSTON, OF ALTON, ASSIGNOR 'IO PFANSOHMID'I, DODGE & CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WASH-BOARD.

5'P-ECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 364,419, dated .Tune 7, 1887. Application filed January 1.8, 1887. Serial No. 224,663. (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOHN S. JonNsroN, residing at Alton, in the county of Madison and State of Illinois, and a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vash-Boards, of which the following is a full description, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings,in which Figure l is a detail in perspective of the top ofthe wasl1-board.showing the soap-box partly swung around. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the top of the wasl1board, showing the soap-box closed and without the guard or protector. Fig. 3 is a section online x x of Fig. 2.

This invention relates to an improvement in soap-supports for double-faced wash-boards, and has for its object to construct a cheap and durable device that can be easily applied,held firmly in position for use, and be quickly turned to bring its face in position for use with either side ofthe wash-board,and also furnish a guard or protector for thefclothing of the operator; and its nature consists in providing a soap-support mounted on a vertical rod between the upper and lower cross bars of a wash-board to swing transversely of the washboard, as lhereinafter more specicall y described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the-drawings, Arepresents the side pieces or standards of a wash-board.

B is the top crossbar, secured in any suitable manner to the top of the side pieces, A.

C is the lower cross-bar, secured between the side pieces, A, and provided, as usual, on its lower edge with a slot for the insertion of the upper. edge of the material forming the rubbing-faces of 'the wash-board, as shown in Fig. 3. This cross-bar is of a width to leave a face on which' the soap can rest, and, as shown, is beveled somewhat to prevent injury to the wrists of the user, which might otherwise occur from coming in contact with a sharp edge.

D is a crimped board of zinc or other matcrial, secured to the wash-board frame in any suitable manner, and provided with two rubloing-faces.

E is a brandboard, forming the back of the reversible box, the box being completed byy side pieces,c,and a top, b, which top,as shown suitable manner. This box is of a size to tit in the space formed between the standards or side pieces, A, -and cross-bars B C, and allow of its being swung around for use with either side of the wash-board.

F is a rod,which,as shown, passes vertically through a hole in the top piece, b, of the soapbox, and has its lower end secured in the crossbar O; and its upper end passes through the cross-bar B, and is upset or provided with a head, d, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. As shown, a staple, c, is used near thelower edge of the soap-box, to secure the box to the rod.

A(See Figs. l and 2.) The hole in the top piece,

b, is made to permit the rod F to lie closely against the inner face of the brand-board E.

G is a notch, of anysuitable size and shape, cut in the inner face of each side piece orstandard A, for the purpose of receiving a spring catch orwire, j', which engagement of the wire or catch with the notch G holds the soap-box from rotation or turning when the wash-board is being used. Only 011e standard A need be provided with a notch,G, in which case aspring wire or catch is to be placed on each side piece c of the soapbox, either construction insuring a proper retention of the soapbox when the wash-boardisiu use.

If desired, aboard or strip might be secured to the pieces c, so as to form a rest for the soap, in which case a hole could be made through the center thereof for the passage of the rod F, which construction would dispense with the use of the staple e. I In Fig. l the top piece, 1),*of the soap-box is shown as being wider than the side pieces, a, which construction allows it to projectbeyond the edge of the top cross-bar, B, and form a guard or protector, c, to prevent the clothes of the user from being splashed with water. That portieri of the top piece, b, which projects and forms the guard or protector is rounded off on the ends sufficient to permit of the swinging around of the soap-box for use with either rubbing-face ofthe washboard,without such guard or protector c coming in contact with the standards or legs A..

IQO

The bar F might be passed through a hole in the back or brand board, in which case the staples e could be dispensed with. As shown 4in Fig. 3, the rod F is located at the center of the cross-bars B and O, and lies against the inside face of the board or back E, which construction leaves a wide bearing-surface on the cross-bar C to furnish a rest for the soap.

I am aware that reversible soap-boxes have been heretofore constructed; but such soapboxes have been pivoted to the standards or legs of the wash-board,and consequently swing from top to bottom, and thus prevent the use of the projecting top piece, c, which forms a guard or protector and which is a very dcsirable feature.

As shown, the rod or bar F is round; but it is evident that it may be squarefor of other angular shape, to one of the iiat faces of which :the board. E may be secured in any suitableA manne1, with the ends of the bar formed round to enter the cross-bars B C, in such manner as to allow of the rotation of the board E.

Instead of the rod or bar Il", a Hat strip of metal can be used to secure the board E n place, such flat metal strip having;r its ends turned at right angles to lie against the inner faces of the cross-bars B C, and be pivoted thereto.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure hy Letters Patent, is-

l. A swinging soap-box for wash-boards, having its top piece extended forward to forni a guard or protector, substantial! y as specified.

2. The combination,with a wash-board, of a reversible soap-box centrally pivoted at top and bottom to the crossbars ofthe wash-board, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the side bars, A, and cross-bars B O, of the hoard E, having side piecesa c, and top b, and the vertical pivot-rod F, substantially as described'.

JOHN S. JOHNSTON.

Witnesses:

ALBERT H.. ADAMS,

HARRY T. JoNEs. 

